Giles laughed. “Indeed, Shannon, I’m but a sober husband now, yet you have it right; I am not easily outraged. And, as soon as I see you both safe through that tree, I must head to Oakley, for I don’t wish to be long behind them. Make haste now, lass.”
Shannon pulled a face, then tugged the undergown off and sat there, arms almost bare, feeling as embarrassed as though she was sitting before them in her underwear. She stole a glimpse at their faces. Both men were studiously averting their eyes. Relieved, she pulled the wimple over her head, then shook out her plait, letting it hang down her back. Better to leave it braided. The sight of her there in what they would think of as her shift, hair loose, would make all three of them feel even more awkward.
She struggled to rise, and Giles bent down, lifting her easily to her feet. Then, Father Dominic took her arm with one hand and her bags with the other, and they were ready. She stole a glimpse at his face. Was he afraid? No, his eyes were sparkling. “Shall we go, Fa…Brother?”
“With the best will in the world, Shannon. God speed you, Sir Giles, and see you safe home.”
“God speed you, too, Father.” He clapped the priest on the shoulder, kissed Shannon again, then, taking the reins of both mule and horse, waited for them to walk through the tree.
Shannon took a deep breath, leaned heavily on her crutch and was about to put one hand on the bark, smooth, not rippled in this earlier time, when Father Dominic said, “Wait, Shannon, what is that?”
“What?”
“That buzzing. Is there a wasp nest in the tree? Are we at risk of being attacked by a swarm?”
“No, Brother, it’s just the tree. It does that when it’s ready, I think.”
He blinked and said, “Well, if the tree is ready for us, mayhap we had best not keep it waiting.” Putting his arm around Shannon, he took her weight and led her forward. She closed her eyes and held her breath as she pushed her way through, feeling the liquid warmth of it as it wrapped itself around her. A few seconds, a plop, and they were out. She opened her eyes, looked at Father Dominic, pulled away and plunked herself down on the grass to take the weight off her ankle. “Ow! It aches.”
Father Dominic remained standing, eyes shut, saying nothing, rather like a zombie. As she watched, wondering if he was okay, he opened his eyes, took a deep breath and gazed around him. His first sight was of the abbey. He stared silently, then said, “Well, Shannon, if anything was needed to bring home to me the passing of so many years, this was it. Tell me, for I forgot to ask the Abbess, what year are we in?”
Shannon hoped he was ready for the answer, but when she told him, he beamed from ear to ear – literally. She had never seen a grin stretch so wide. He rubbed his hands together, saying gleefully, “The year of our Lord two-thousand-and-twelve! Well, well! Most gratifying.”
Shannon shook herself mentally, unable to believe he was taking it all in his stride. Then surveyed the car park where, this early, there were no cars. She hoped she wasn’t in for too long a wait. What time was it? She’d left her watch in her bag. Around seven? Oh, great. Two or three hours yet.
“Father, I mean Brother, I think we’re a bit too early. No one’s going to be here for quite some time. If you could help me get over there, then, when anyone arrives, I can ask them for help; you don’t have to stay with me. You can go once you’ve got me to the gatehouse.”
He hoisted her back to her feet, gave her the crutch, put his arm around her again, and helped support her as she limped painfully to the abbey entrance.
It seemed as though it took forever. Shannon was biting her lip to stop from crying with the pain by the time they reached the bench at the gatehouse. Father Dominic settled her there and sat beside her as she hunched over, gasping, tired and hurting. All she wanted to do now was go to bed with some painkillers. Forget breakfast! She felt sick with pain and exhaustion. She closed her eyes, breathing deeply, trying to summon enough strength to last until she reached home. When she opened her eyes, she realised Father Dominic was looking rather too settled.
“Brother, you don’t have to wait. I’ll be fine, honestly. Go on. You get safely back to your own time.” She just hoped he’d be able to, if she wasn’t with him. She’d feel happier once she’d seen him go back through the tree.
He didn’t move, his gaze still on the ruins.
“Brother! I said I’ll be fine. You can go home now.”
He turned his head to answer, and her heart sank at the expression on his face. “Indeed, I cannot, Shannon. I promised your aunt and Sir Giles that I would see you safe. I will not leave you here alone.”
“Yes you can. Honestly. Tell them I said it was okay. This is my time, I’ll be fine; you go. Anyway, I need to know you can get back through. If you don’t go now, I’ll worry.”
He remained stubborn. “Shannon, no. I have given my word; let there be no more arguments. Now, you say no one will be here for some time?”
She shook her head mutely.
“Then, I will set your fears at rest. Observe.” He rose and strode away from her, heading straight for the beech. As she watched, he turned, waved and plunged into it, and she breathed a huge sigh of relief. Thank goodness.
Her relief turned to horror as he reappeared, walking back towards her briskly. “There,” he said rather breathlessly as he seated himself. “You need have no more worries. Now, I will wait with you, and you can tell me more about your time.”
After what felt like hours of his questions, which actually weren’t that easy to answer, Shannon was feeling wiped out when he suddenly grabbed her arm, saying hoarsely, “Shannon, what is that noise?”
She listened for a moment but could hear nothing. “What noise?”
“That…” He trailed off, looking as though he could not find the words. Shaking his head, he tried again. “Can you not hear it? Truly, I do not know how to explain it. Hark?”
Shannon listened again, head on one side, then realised what he was talking about. “Oh, that. It’s just a plane. Look.”
He followed her finger and swallowed hard, then grabbed her arm again. “A plane? It looks like a dragon. See! It breathes smoke. Should we not conceal ourselves?”
She shook her head, yawning. She was so not going to do this now. “Fath…I mean Brother, I’m not even going to begin to go into detail, but it’s not dangerous. It’s just one of the ways we travel.”
Dominic looked at Shannon with desperate pleading in his face, and she rolled her eyes as she gave him a brief explanation, which she could tell left him far from satisfied. Tough! She’d had enough; she wanted to go home. She looked up, relieved, as a few cars drove in.
Beside her, she heard Father Dominic gasp as he leapt to his feet. “And those,” he said, pointing, wide-eyed, “what are they? They gleam like the sun and move like low flying birds. And…and…they have faces inside.” His own face was wreathed in smiles at the new wonder.
“Um, they’re called cars, Brother. We travel in them, too. They have seats inside and someone to drive them. Like…like a sort of covered cart but much faster. And, when I can find someone who has a phone, that’s how I’m going to get home. All you have to do now is get me over there where they are. It’s called a car park. Are you okay with that?”
“Okay? Dear child, it’s wondrous. The colours! The speed! The grace! They move so smoothly.” He stopped, gaping some more as one drew to a halt, spilling out a family of four, with two teenaged girls dressed in – Shannon groaned – shorts.
“But their clothing! Are those young women harlots?”
“No, Brother, they’re very respectable.”
“But their legs!”
“Brother, there is nothing wrong with showing your legs in our culture.”
He tore his gaze from them with an effort and then glanced modestly away, trying not to peer at them again. “Well, well. I confess, I am not easily shocked, yet…”
Shannon decided to take charge. The family would have mobiles; they’d help her. If she left it t
o him, he’d be here for ages, and she was beginning to wonder if he might not become a problem. “Brother?”
He ignored her, turning to stare once more at the abbey. She cleared her throat and said again, louder this time, “Brother!” He started and looked down at her. “Can you help me up, please? I want to get home now, and you need to leave. Come on, you’ve been a huge help; I couldn’t have managed without you, but you really don’t need to stay.”
She was talking to herself. At the sight of a man in a sort of uniform, who was jangling a bunch of keys in his hand, Father Dominic had gone rushing towards him. The man seemed as though he was about to open up the abbey grounds. She sat there, fuming and worried, hoping Dominic would behave himself.
She need not have bothered; the priest was leading him back to her, beaming. The man fumbled in his pocket and held out his phone. “The monk says you need to borrow a mobile. Here you go.”
Shannon almost sagged with relief. “Thanks. Do you know any local cab companies?”
He held out his hand, and she gave him back his phone. He dialled a number and, while waiting for a reply, asked her name and where she was going, then spoke for a few moments before putting it back in his pocket. “Sorted, love. It’ll be here in about fifteen minutes. That do you?”
“Yeah. Thanks a lot. Cheers.”
“No worries.” He went back to the gatehouse, opening up the entrance. A few other people – probably more staff – had drifted over, and the family in shorts were holding out money, eager to get inside.
Shannon yawned again. She was so tired, she reckoned she could even sleep on this hard bench. She gritted her teeth. C’mon, Shan, you can do this! Her determination was slightly undermined by another enormous yawn but she turned to Dominic, trying to sound brisk. “Brother, come on. Help me get to the car park.” Then, she could send him back to where he belonged.
She held out her arm, and he hoisted her to her feet again, where she wobbled slightly. He put his arm round her wordlessly, and she had the feeling he was in a bit of a trance. Well, it wasn’t really to be wondered at, was it?
Limping across the grass, even using her crutch and with Dominic’s help, her ankle hurt like anything, and she was relieved when she could sit down again. She was less relieved when the priest made himself comfortable next to her.
“Honestly, you can go now, Fa…er, Brother. You really should.”
He looked at her, one eyebrow quirking up. “Is there so much danger here then, Shannon? You made it sound as though it is much safer than my own time. Was that an untruth?”
“It is. I mean, it’s safer for me, but…” Bother him! She was tired and cross. She’d been awake for hours. Her ankle was hurting, and she didn’t want the worry of Father Dominic.
“Then, I will stay to see you safely into your taxi,” he said implacably. Shannon ground her teeth almost audibly and gave in to the inevitable.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
“Here it is! Help me up, please.”
As the cab came to a halt, Dominic stood up, easing Shannon gently to her feet. The driver got out. “Taxi for Shannon Hart?”
“Yes, please. That’s me.”
“Oh dear. You been in the wars, love? Want a hand?” He held out his arm, to be brushed aside by Father Dominic. Shrugging, he opened the back door for her, and the priest helped her in. She started to wave to Dominic as he turned away, then stared in disbelief as he went behind the car, appeared on the other side and clambered in beside her.
“In truth, this is more difficult than mounting a horse,” he muttered, as he folded himself into the vehicle.
Shannon gawped at him. “But you…but… No! You can’t come.”
“My dear Shannon, you did not think I would miss my only chance to ride in one of these wondrous things, did you?” He settled in, smiling complacently as the driver revved the engine.
“Well, fasten your seatbelt, then,” she hissed, showing him how to do it, glaring at him in outrage.
He fixed his the way she showed him, then sat back, ignoring her, gazing out the window, eyes shining, face nearly split in two with his grin as the taxi pulled out of the car park. As the car picked up speed, she was conscious of little gasps and grunts of pleasure coming from him.
She ferreted in her bag for her purse, hoping she’d have enough money to send him back. No way would she allow him into the house. He’d be a dead giveaway to Mum, and she couldn’t begin to explain him to Chloe and Dad. It was so not happening. Surreptitiously counting out notes, she watched the meter go round, holding her breath. At least Father Dominic was staying quiet. She leaned back and closed her eyes.
After what felt like an interminable drive, the taxi pulled up at home. Shannon kissed the priest on the cheek. “Thank you, but that’s enough help, now. Here.” She pushed some coins and notes into his hand. “This is to pay the fare for your trip back.” She looked at him severely. “You will go straight back, won’t you? Can I trust you?”
Father Dominic still appeared breathless with amazement and delight. She supposed he’d never thought to experience such speed, such excitement; and all from a comfortably padded seat. He nodded his head at Shannon.
“No, that’s not good enough. Promise me!”
“I promise. Now, God bless and keep you, Shannon. It has been a wonderful experience; I thank you for allowing me to accompany you.”
She withdrew her head and muttered, “As if I had a choice!”
Ignoring her comment, he called, “But wait, how shall you walk? Can you manage alone?”
Could she? She’d manage if it killed her. He was not, absolutely not, going to end up meeting her family. She poked her head back through the window, gritting her teeth against the pain and forcing a fake smile. “Yes, it’s much better now,” she lied and withdrew again, then leaned into the front of the cab, paid her own fare and instructed the driver to take him straight back to Sparnstow. “He only has enough cash for that. It will cost the same as it did to here, won’t it?”
Father Dominic chuckled to himself, aware that Shannon was less than pleased with him. But to miss such an opportunity? It would have been rank ingratitude to God. He settled back to enjoy the return trip.
“All right in the back there, guv? I mean, Brother. Or is it Father?”
“Perfectly well, thank you, my son.”
The engine revved, the car pulled out, and he watched as Shannon dumped her bags by the gate, then limped down a short path to a well-built home. As were all the properties here, he observed. And every one with glazed windows. Were they all wealthy merchants? Or mayhap glass was not so rare and expensive in this era, for even the more meanly-built dwellings had them. And he had seen no hovels at all.
As she turned to wave, the door opened, and another young woman, looking much like Lady Isabella, threw her arms round her. Dominic craned his neck. The cab turned a corner, and they were lost from sight.
Sighing with pleasure, he watched the structures flash by. And such structures. Ugly, yet large and so different. Father Dominic rubbed his hands together gleefully, but then, he realised it would surely take no more than one siege engine or mangonel to bring the downfall of most of them, for they all shared a weakness. So many windows and such large, clear panes. Light, yes, it would be as light as day inside these, but the glass could be so easily broken, and that would favour an enemy. He drank in everything he saw, storing it up to tell the Abbess and Sister Ursel.
Gazing up into the sky, he watched as another of the dragon things – no, what had she called them? planes? – moved overhead, its smoky breath trailing behind it. He would have liked much more information about that, but the poor lass had been so weary. To her, these things were as nothing. He supposed it was difficult to explain something which in her world was so commonplace. The frustration was great, but he would have to bear it, for he could ask no one else.
The trip ended all too quickly, and Father Dominic felt a flash of disappointment as the abbey came into view.
Deflated, he struggled to unfasten the seatbelt, his shoulders slumping at the thought of his adventure ending so soon. He tugged at the door; nothing happened.
Seeing his difficulty, the driver got out and opened it for him. “All done, Father. Here you go.”
The priest held out the money Shannon had given him. The driver shrugged. “Nah, go on. You were doing her a favour. You can say a prayer for me, instead, eh? My name’s Dave.”
“Most kind. Thank you, thank you.”
“Well, I’m a Catholic myself, and if she’d been my daughter, I’d have been grateful someone like you’d helped her out. Go on, you put it in your church collection.” He got back into the taxi, slammed the door and drove away, his arm resting on the open window.
As the car moved off, it threw up a shower of small stones and grit, and a distressing odour assaulted Dominic’s nostrils, catching the back of his throat so he almost choked. He clapped a hand over his nose and mouth for a moment, then forced himself to free his face, breathing shallowly, trying to ignore the burning of his tonsils. Faugh! How did they endure such a stench?
He watched the taxi disappear down the road, fingering the money thoughtfully. These wouldn’t be any good in his own time, now, would they? And a pity it would be to waste them. He eyed the abbey uncertainly.
As he stood there wondering what to do, a large conveyance drove up. Father Dominic stepped back quickly to avoid the noxious vapour as it swept past him, then watched as a gaggle of women spilled out, chattering like magpies. Their dress looked vaguely like…it couldn’t be…they couldn’t be nuns, could they? Their skirts were nearly up to their knees. He swallowed. Some things in this time were not so easy to become accustomed to.
One of them turned her head in his direction, smiled, waved and came over to him. “Brother! Are you here alone? Would you care to join us?” Her voice had a hint of an Irish lilt to it. “My name’s Sister Jacinta, and these are Sisters Bea, Naomi, Kathleen, Maresa, Angelica, and, believe it or not, Sister Mary.” They beamed, fluttering around him like so many moths.
A Promise to Keep (Out of Time Book 2) Page 22